On Friday afternoon, that trend continued. The Huntersville, North Carolina native paced the field with a lap of 122.787 mph (15.627 seconds) around the World’s Fastest Half-Mile in the one and only practice session for Saturday’s Zombie Auto 150.

In two previous K&N Pro East starts at Bristol, Burton started on the pole both times (2016 and 2017). His engine expired in the 2016 event, ending his afternoon prematurely. He won the rain-shortened race last year.

In the season-opening race at New Smyrna, Burton started first and finished third.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series regular Noah Gragson was second fastest with a lap of 15.652 (122.591). In 2016, the Las Vegas, Nevada native started 14th and finished 12th in his only other K&N East start at Thunder Valley.